244 problems related to power train have been reported for the 2020 Ford Escape. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2020 Ford Escape based on all problems reported for the 2020 Escape.
Summary of problem: following the mandatory software update for NHTSA recall 22v859 (Ford 22s73) on my 2020 Ford Escape 1. 5l, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic electrical failure. The vehicle is now subject to the expanded NHTSA recall 25v467 (Ford 25s76) with a status of 'remedy not available'. Safety failures: continuous overcharging: a multimeter test confirms the alternator is overcharging at 15. 5v or higher, posing a severe risk of battery explosion or vehicle fire. Safety system collapse: the overvoltage has forced multiple safety modules into 'fail-safe' mode, disabling the anti-lock braking system (abs), traction control, and awd powertrain. Network communication failure: diagnostic reports confirm a u3000 critical control module fault and 'lost communication' with the battery energy control module, indicating a software-induced network collapse. Undriveable status: the vehicle has been unusable for over 30 days and cannot pass NY state inspection due to persistent evap and module communication codes triggered by the recall update. Dealer negligence: [xxx] (dealer #xxx) confirmed that all physical communication lines are functional but refused a free recall-related diagnosis, demanding a $600 fee instead of honoring the federal safety recall mandate. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v467000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from under the hood, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. However, it was unclear if the failure was recall-related. The parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000. The VIN was not available.
By dong my own research, I found out it was the awd module. It's not grounded correctly. There are multiple, long detailed forum posts on this. Here is one: [xxx] I verified my awd drive module was indeed not getting enough power do to the grounding issue, which sends a cascade of other faults including the anti lock breaks, collision detection, driving modes, cruise control, auto hold, hill park assist. All are non-operational. Now my awd module does not even show up with a obd scanner. This should be a recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle hesitated while attempting to start, with the power train warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v467000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 18,474.
Upon starting our vehicle, we received several warning lights relating to collision control and that the awd system had failed. This happened on a Saturday so we had to wait until Monday to bring the car in to the dealer for service. The service department told us that the diagnostic testing indicated that the awd module and the ptu actuator motor needed to be replaced. Our vehicle is under six years and under 29,000 miles, along with being garage kept and having regular maintenance.
The vehicle jerks forward when driving at slower speeds, around 10-25 miles per hour. I have especially noticed this on the highway when there is moderate to heavy traffic as I am consistently driving at slower speeds. The vehicle was checked by the original dealer I bought it from as well as a Ford dealership, but neither could replicate the problem. However, I have driven with multiple people who have agreed that the issue is happening, and I have read on many, many online forums and facebook groups that others are having the same problem.
Unknownon my dash my awd fault warning has showed up followed by hill assist not available and traction control not available. I have looked for in formation online about it and it seems that it’s a recurring issue with 2020 Ford Escape and many others. I’ve seen that there was a customer satisfaction effective on April 9,2021 through April 30, 2022 but I have just gotten this car last year and dealer states that I am responsible for fixing a manufacturing issue. I’m not sure where my car was manufactured but my car is affected. I have about 83,600 miles and don’t seem to understand why I have to pay since in the customer satisfaction program it states that the module needs to be replaced before sale and customers that have already purchased the vehicle should have it replaced no charge to them. I’ve only just gotten this car last year February 2024 and not sure if the owner before got the notice or not but I have not received a notice stating anything about the awd system malfunctioning. It is definitely a safety risk if I was to be driving in a snow or ice storm and my traction control stopped working; without the awd the car is harder to accelerate and control sometimes. I haven't gotten if fixed since they want me to pay for something that they failed to make sure was working correctly. I can't afford to fix it since money is already tight but it is my only way of transportation. I have some photos of the lights/warnings and I have a document of the customer satisfaction program from 2021.
When the interior of the car gets hot, the gear select dial will not rotate out of park. This has occurred on 5 separate occasions. Eventually the interior of the car cools down enough to shift, but that can take anywhere from minutes to hours, leaving the vehicle and its passengers stranded until the selector shifts. This same problem has been reported by several others on the Ford Escape forum.
On my dash my awd fault warning has showed up followed by hill assist not available and traction control not available. I have looked for in formation online about it and it seems that it’s a recurring issue with 2020 Ford Escape and many others. I’ve seen that there was a customer satisfaction effective on April 9,2021 through April 30, 2022 but I have just gotten this car last year and dealer states that I am responsible for fixing a manufacturing issue. I’m not sure where my car was manufactured but my car is affected. I have about 83,600 miles and don’t seem to understand why I have to pay since in the customer satisfaction program it states that the module needs to be replaced before sale and customers that have already purchased the vehicle should have it replaced no charge to them. I’ve only just gotten this car last year February 2024 and not sure if the owner before got the notice or not. Since winter is starting soon I really need to get this fixed it’s a safety hazard and I’m not understanding why it is not a recall since it showed up suddenly and stopped my drive modes from working and traction that’s very important in the winter.
Powertrain control module failure causing vehicle to lose power and engine to run at 5 to 6 rpms. And transmission not shifting properly. Vehicle is going into limp mode and will also shut down while driving but the engine stays running and the cruise does not shut off. There is not remedy for the recall that I believe is causing these issues. This has been going on for 6 month. This vehicle has been nothing but a problem.
Summary: failure of awd/transfer case control module causing loss of multiple safety and driveline functions. Vehicle is currently being repaired at Ford dealership so will have already been corrected. While driving, multiple dash warnings appeared: “service advancetrac,” “awd not available,” “hill start assist not available,” and “drive mode not available. ” the vehicle lost all all-wheel-drive functionality as well as traction/stability features. Dealer diagnosed an internal failure of the awd/transfer case control module. Safety impact: this failure disables critical safety systems (advancetrac stability control, hill start assist, awd traction). In poor weather or emergency maneuvers, loss of these systems could increase the risk of crash. Repair estimate: dealer quoted ~$1,070 for replacement of awd control module (parts, labor, and programming). Concern: this is a major driveline and safety system failure at only 40,000 miles. Ford previously acknowledged awd module defects in 2020 Escapes under customer satisfaction program 21b19, which suggests this may be a broader issue that warrants investigation or recall.
My car togs a lot. My tire sensors keep going out. I've smelt gas before while driving. It's very slow going up hill. I hear grinding sounds intermittently.
The transmission experienced total failure. Ford repair claimed that the failure was due to the torque converter caused the failure. The car experience issues with not shifting into a higher gear at highway speeds and failure to go into neutral when going from forward to reverse.
Vehicle has active alerts for powertrain control module, and low boost pressure with the turbocharge along with emissions codes p0299, p0496 and p0456. The vehicle is constantly going into deep sleep mode. While driving the vehicle started to enter safe mode. And displayed an alert that said please turn ignition on. The dash and screen went black like vehicle was off but it was still running. This happened multiple times. My vehicle also will not start after pumping gas so I have to leave vehicle running every time I pump gas. My vehicle will not pass NY state inspection because of the recalls.
Purchased certified vehicle from wray Ford on 2/23/24. Car was previously leased by fmcc and still listed as a Ford fleet vehicle in michigan as of 9/12/25. VIN confirms it falls under Ford safety recall 24s79, which was never performed. Vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and non-responsive braking, behaving autonomously. Fordpass connect, fmcc, and wray Ford all confirmed it was unsafe to drive based on 38 diagnostic codes from July/August 2025. June 2025 data and other dates were blacked out. No warning lights or alerts appeared in the Fordpass app prior to the crash on 8/25/25. Allstate insurance removed the vehicle from wray Ford without authorization, falsely claimed a $10,000 salvage offer, and altered the accident date in the online portal. Damage estimates were manipulated: initial $4,500 based on five photos, later inflated to $13,195 using the same photos. Shreve collision’s manager confirmed no estimate was performed, contradicting allstate’s claims. Allstate appears to be shielding Ford from liability. The vehicle is no longer in my possession, but documentation and diagnostic records are preserved. I believe Ford concealed a critical defect and suppressed diagnostic data, putting my safety and others at serious risk. I have contacted Ford and they are stalling and have misrepresented to me many things. They admitted that they can access Fordpass connect data remotely and their agent stated driving this vehicle is not an option. I have almost been involved in prior accidents because of hidden defect in my car. My son has audio recordings, transcripts, Ford pass connect data. We believe allstate changed the date of the accident to throw off a forensic examinator. I have proof of allstate changing the accident date and removing documents. This is really a serious breach by allstate and Ford. I am 80 years old, and if it was not for my son I would have never known this and my son is half owner of the car and is very concerned for my safety.
2020 Ford Escape titanium with 28111 miles on it throwing a very commom error “awd fault” the amount of these at this point should be recalled.
One day just had a ton of issues. Sometimes when vehicles is started it will not go into drive or reverse. Rpm’s respond to gas pedal like the vehicle is in park or neutral with little resistance. Cel 4wd hill start and maybe another light alert come on when the vehicle starts. When this first began to happen there was a rev condition between 1st and 2nd gear, car hesitated to shift. When auto start stop would engage it would not move forward. Eventually the car may catch gear and begin to move under its own power again. Brought it into a car repair shop and was told I needed a whole new transmission. Said it could have been from the transmission fluid leaking in the car from a previous recall on my car. Car is only at 66,000 miles.
Around the 38,000 mile mark on our 2020 Ford Escape we received many different errors (awd fault, abs, advancetrac service, hill assist, etc). I found out via NHTSA and other forums that this is a common issue in the vehicle from the awd module, and although it is awd related, it is not eligible for the powertrain warranty per Ford because it is an electrical component. I declined the $1200 repair at the dealership so I could first call Ford customer service, at the recommendation of the dealership, though the service tech did mention it is a safety concern because the abs is apparently also controlled by the awd. After a couple different calls to Ford, they have refused to acknowledge that it is a manufacturer defect, or pay for the repair. With no help from Ford, I have no other option than to file a complaint here. Based on other resources online, the issue seems to stem from improper grounding of the wiring on the awd module.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 15 mph, the vehicle experienced a complete loss of automotive power with the “service vehicle soon” light illuminated. The vehicle came to a complete stop in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the powertrain was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
Car was jerking during acceleration. Rpm needle was bouncing while accelerating. It felt like there was a loss of power. Brought it to a Ford dealership and they were unable to find a problem directly related to this issue. They took care of other problems such as the fuel sensor. Brought it to a transmission specialist and they said the torque converter was bad and need to be replaced. Car has 89k miles on it.
Total failure of transmission. The transmission on this car failed while driving making it unable to move and creating a risk of collision with other vehicles. No warning displayed on dash until after failure. Noticed some minor vibrations when decelerating at speed was at 25mph. Mileage was approx 80,000 miles. Mechanic diagnosed the possible cause as the failure of the transmission fluid pump or failure of "lifetime" transmission fluid. Cost to replace was $9,000.
Transmission shredded internally after piston blew.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted regarding the failure and the mechanic acknowledged that several other similar vehicles had experienced the same failure with the transmission. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Awd fault.
Turn on vehicle dashboard lights up where my awd not working, my collision assist not working, trac not working, drive mode not working. This started about a week ago from end of June. I did find a recall for 2020 Escape ecoboost but my VIN is not on there. I cannot access my drive mode my collision light does not work and I am driving in front wheel.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The transmission independently shifted from drive to neutral and then to park. In addition, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with gear shifter module failure. The contact was informed that the gear shifter module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a wiring harness failure. The contact was informed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission and computer system failures. The contact was informed that the transmission and computer system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the engine shut off and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with brake line failure. The contact was informed that the brake line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer several times for the persistent failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Shortly after having new tires installed at the dealership the following warnings displayed: awd fault service required, hill start assist, pre-collision and traccontrol. Mileage was around 10,700, June 2025. Dealer unable to look at until July 2025. Advised that the rdu motor needed replacement. Replacement was completed 7/23/25. The vehicle was 5 months past the powertrain warranty. So out of pocket was over $1,900. Given the low mileage on the vehicle it seems that this should not have happened. Research here and other websites indicate this is a known issue. The dealer indicated the same.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed on two occasions, the powertrain warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle on one of the occasions, the message "no hill assist" and another unknown message were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that an active shutter switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
Power train fault indicator came on indicating that the turbo charger was in an underboost condition. This caused the vehicle to lose power on the highway which could have placed my family in a unsafe condition.
Two issues. 1: transmission shakes, shudders, and loses power intermittently at shift points. 2: check arm spot welds broke loose at the door. Safety issue. Ford has a service bulletin for this sm 51553 and sm 50150.
Since the remedy was completed for the last recall for the fuel injectors cracking my Ford Escape 2020 has had many issues resulting in warning lights on in 5 different modules. My Escape will not pass NY state inspection and the dealer wants 600$ just to diagnose these issues. I have a powertrain/awd fault that results in not awd and vehicle has no power and does not run smoothly. The rpms jump constantly between 2 and 3. Others warning lights and errors include traction control, tire pressure sensor failure, abs, electric park fault, and also issues with the power steering. Got an appraisal down by my dealer and was told the Escape is only worth $3,000 now. I owe 16,000.
Rotary style gear shift does not go into gear on hot days. Gear shift is stuck in park and will not rotate to drive or another gear, leaving motorist stranded.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact attempted to shift gear, and the vehicle jerked abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph, the message "vehicle shutting down - place vehicle in neutral to restart" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times in one day. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the contact stated that upon further investigation, the contact noticed on the Ford app that a message "powertrain malfunction - reduced power" was displayed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
On hot days the gear shift gets stuck in park. The car interior has to cool down before the shifter will turn in to gear.